The iPad 2 Lines Are Ridiculous

This is a guest post by Mark Hosbein, a potential iPad 2 customer. Mark has been unable to get an iPad 2 after several days waiting in line. He expresses the frustration felt by many. As we’ve reported, Apple continues to see long lines for the iPad 2 a week after launch day. Mark’s piece was originally published here.

I just returned from the Apple Store at the Short Hills Mall in New Jersey. I arrived at the mall at 5.20 AM to wait in line for my chance to buy an iPad 2. I was number 27 in line. I did not get one. The line went to 81. My wife had been there for the past two days, and both days she was shut out. She was number 39 yesterday, with no luck.

For a revered brand, Apple is risking customer will in the way they are managing the iPad launch.

When you call, the stores cannot tell you when or how many they will get in. Even the night before when you call they cannot tell you what they are getting at the store less than ten hours later.

If it’s coming from California, they have to know what is coming at that point, but the company is not telling their stores and their stores are simply telling people they don’t know. Does not sound like the operations of a company that makes sophisticated computer products and runs one of the most trafficked websites online, does it?

There are several people who have waited in line multiple days and still do not get product. I was with 70 angry customers this morning. Only ten people got iPads – there were twenty available and the first ten people – many of whom looked like resellers for eBay or were shipping them overseas – all bought two. Apple’s policy, we were told, was to sell two. The 70 customers in line requested that the manager not follow policy, but he would not listen.

By the calculation of someone in our line today, Apple sells 14,000 iPads a day through their stores – at that rate about 3.3 million a year. What they are not counting is the 70 people at each store each day who walk away frustrated. For their 700 stores, that equals 49,000 day. They are frustrating four times as many people as they are delighting. Ouch!

If this goes on for a month – and at this rate that is conservative – that will lead to 1.5M frustrated customers. Think about that, one the greatest brands in the world is now going to have more than a million people saying why they are not fans.

This was preventable and manageable if the company thought about the customer experience. The manager this am said to me and the other frustrated customers “that is the policy.” The company that reinvented computing now focusing on policy. Hmmm.

He said that “this happens with every launch.” So does that mean they knew they were going to create all this ill will?

I even said why not give every one in line a $5 itunes gift card. “Sir, I just can’t go do that” he said. Would have cost $350 and been the best money he spent – but it was outside of policy.

We’ll all go buy an iPad. My wife wants to try again on Monday. I am giving up. I will order online. But whether I like the iPad or not when I get it, my feeling toward Apple will never be same. They are big, they follow policy, they are not focused on customers.

They make great products, but not happy customers. That’s really the news of the iPad 2 launch. That is the corner the company is turning.

UPDATE: I was actually standing in line to get one for a school auction, not myself. It is for a fundraiser this week. Just another testament to its popularity is the fact we think people will overpay for it for charity.

I met some great people in line – Ito, who had been there for four days; Ben who been for three days, and a bunch of other folks. We did start our own numbering system that the crowd honored, so that was a positive (we avoided the mad rush for the door when it opened). We had a good time, even many of us walked away without an iPad, but with the same amount of money as we showed up with.

Anyway, I appreciate all the feedback – certainly know there is a lot going on besides my getting an iPad. One or two of the folks did get the point – it was about Apple’s lack of focus on the customer experience of getting the product – and the consequences that might have on it’s brand image over time.

I ordered one online. I have managed until now without one, an extra four to six weeks won’t be that hard.

About the author:

ZechT

I was told by an Apple Store employee that they don’t receive shipments on Sundays. Do you think this is true?

Michael Powell

As I do totally understand where you’re coming from, and I do sympathise, there is something that can be done about it. As stated in the article, “this happens with every launch”, so learn from this and head down there real early IF you want an iPad 2 that badly.

It’s not out here in the UK yet, but prior to the rumours coming out about us having a 5pm launch as you guys and girls did, I was planning on getting down to the Apple Store at 2am/3am purely because I want an iPad 2 that much; if I were not too bothered, or could wait, sure I’d try heading down there a bit later on at 7am/8am/9am or later, but I would then not complain about it. We all know how crazy people get when the latest iOS device gets released to the masses.

The resellers at the front / pushing in the queues are a totally different (and pesky) story by the sounds of things.

Raj

This is someone who doesn’t get the economy and world we live in. I’m not going to use Japan as an example, but in a country where Food and water are in short supply and people are lined up for hours if not days, for them I feel as it is a necessity of life. If you really want an Ipad 2, go line up earlier. They had 500+ at each store on opening and with world events are having issues keeping their inventory up and its only going to get harder from now on in. They are only angry because they didn’t get one. Stop crying and be the first in line everyday. Or wait a month or three. I assure you, the world will still be the same if you don’t get the shiny new toy right away.

Mail

Quit your complaining. I’m sick of these sissy crybabies.

t87

wwaaaahhhhhh… waaaahhhhhh. wwh wwhh wwwhh wwaaaahhhhhh

seriously, people are dead, homeless and in fear at one corner of the world. Just shut up and suck it up !

John Petrillo

I ordered mine on launch day online about 10pm eastern. I am getting a april 6th delivery. For me, its worth the wait and I would hate to be turned away multiple times while I try to stand in line.

Chris60006

How exactly does someone LOOK like an eBay reseller? I’m a bit puzzled by that statement.

Allan Cook

I am one of the fortunate customers to have gotten a new iPad. In light of this story, my purchase experience was pretty easy.

I checked at one local store last Saturday morning. Of course they had nothing, but the sales guy gave me his card and told me to call before coming out. I dropped by the SXSW pop-up store on Sunday and they had white 64 GB iPads, but I passed because I don’t really care for white.

On Monday, I rode the bus nine blocks from my office to Sixth Street an hour before the pop-up store was supposed to open and found a line of a few hundred people stretching around the block. On Tuesday, sensing that if there were going to be any iPads to be had in Austin they would be at the pop-up store, I got there about 8:30, 3 1/2 hours before opening. I was first in line and snagged a 64 GB in black. The guy behind me had just arrived from another store in town where they told the people who already had lined up that they were not going to be getting anything that day and that they might have better luck at the pop-up store.

The pop-up store folks were pretty considerate, and let us know that they would indeed have iPads for sale at noon, and in what configurations. So those of us who had the good fortune to be in the line at the right time got one. I think — and presume — they told the unlucky folks they would have to try again. I think they did a pretty good job making sure no one simply wasting time waiting in line. Really, they worked hard to make sure we were all informed and as happy as circumstances would permit. Once it happened, it was a very nice experience: The Apple employees came rushing around the corner just before the store opened and paired up with those waiting in line and ushered us through the process. So we went in two-by-two in small groups, paid our money and left. I was in and on the way back to my office in well under five minutes.

I agree that the process could have been managed better. First, there should have been pre-ordering. Second, there should have been enough inventory in the stores and in the pipeline to satisfy demand at launch. It is tricky to calculate, but something went terribly wrong in this case, and the unending lines are proof. Third, store employees should make certain no one stands in line for hours or days when they are not going to get anything. I remember that after one of the iPhone launches there was a web site which reported which stores did or did not have inventory. Such a site might have saved a lot of frustration by a lot of people in this case.

I feel very lucky to have gotten my iPad 2 and I am sympathetic to those who, a week-plus after the launch, are still waiting, too often without any meaningful information, to get their hands on this amazing device.

Allan Cook

I was told just the opposite at two stores. YMMV.

moopenguin32

If you have Target stores nearby, use the Target Inventory Checker (http://obamapacman.com/2011/03… and call a store with a status of available. I did that on Friday and got a white 16 GB Wi-Fi only iPad 2.

Bryan Dobson

And we’re sick of replies from people like you. So we’re both unhappy then. <sniff></sniff>

nizy

They certainly could manage the situation much better. How about at store opening they count the available stock of each model and assign them to each person from the front of the queue. That way everyone knows straight away that they’re either too late or not.

x2fur

i should have written this article because i know how easy it is to design, manufacture, and launch millions of a single product that has an amazing amount of demand… the author must know how to make it happen too… what other technology product sells the way apple products do? what were those day one numbers on the Xoom? half a mil? – i have an original iPad, it works, its cool, i don’t hate apple because they make products that everyone wants and therefore i have to use my “old” product until the supply lines balance out… i bet motorola wishes they had people in line for their product too… i will not seek to create ill will, but realize that i may not get what i want right this moment while apple makes my next new tablet… i will behave like an understanding human being rather than lash out at a company trying to please the masses because i dont want to behave or sound like an impetuous whiney brat…

x2fur

oh you can tell from their brightly colored yellow ebay shirts – u didn’t know they had a uniform?

John Petrillo

anybody know where the pic of that store is?

x2fur

well usually people make things like that up… noticing that two people are getting answers it would seem to me that some stores may receive a shipment on Sunday, and some do not or some employees are misinformed… of course i cant imagine how a company the size of apple might have a misinformed employee here and there.. i mean all ten of those employees should know everything by now… (oh wait, that one store in covent garden had over 300 employees, right?) — or maybe they are just lying to you to keep just you from having an iPad —

Anon12345

Should have waited on launch day. The 5 o’clock launch was stupid but if you really wanted one it didn’t matter.

Tager

I love how by looking at someone you can tell they are a eBay reseller.

ryanrhughes

Supply & Demand. Apple creates awesome products, with huge demands which are presently greater than the supply at their disposal. Contrast that with another product like the Android tablets, where you could easily walk in a buy 10 of them because you are one of the few people who actually want one.

The solution is simple, if you want an iPad 2 within the first month of launch, go early and be one of the first 10 in line. After that, it could be a gamble as to whether you’ll actually receive the device you want with short supplies and 18 models to choose from.

tony

And in case you miss that they have the words eBay reseller tattooed on their foreheads.

Eric

I bought mine on eBay and avoided calling stores or waiting 4-5 weeks for online ordering. Not going to wait almost a month and a half b/c the ipad3 is suppose to arrive in September.

Thedude

My god,..talk about spoiled and self indulged,…the whole world must step aside because YOU want an iPad,..did you ever think of just ordering it online on the 11th of March like a million other people?

Nabi Awada

what a crybaby LMAO .. awe baby want a sucker? seriously stop being such a little girl throwing a temper tantrum and if you want the ipad 2 wait a month and you can get it .. you want it first well expect the lines .. idiot

Michael Rhodes

what strange responses, Im an apple fan boy (I even have the tshisrt “I was an apple user when they were doomed”) but the point the author was making is completely correct apple has built a brand on many things but with the apple store customer care has been one of them, every time you turn someone away especially on multiple days you are damaging that brand, and if this happens every launch then they should be better prepared . WHy not restrict everyone to one IPad – if you want multiple do it via net or stand in line with multiple people , the idea of saying I have x stock and giving cards to the first x people is very common and not brain science. The weird response of the other commentators makes me laugh, If you turn away your customers they may buy another brand and you loose them. Even if alternatives are not as good people will switch. I wonder if apple were just surprised by the response to this release, this is an incremental improvemnet, other than the camera there is nothing major here, Im not upgrading until storage space rises and/or screen is higher resolution, and must admit Im baffled by the urge to get the 2

pickme2

It’s not a corner they’re turning, that ship has already sailed. Long ago, I knew my path to happiness didn’t include standing in line. For anything. Do you think the company should withhold release until they have enough product to satisfy demand? How about an iPad lottery – you get a ticket, they call when your number comes up? Or maybe use the health care model – make them available now, if you’ve got $3500, but $499 if you can wait. We know that system works really well. The other sign on my path to happiness says, “No empathy for those that stand in line. For anything.”My life didn’t bottom out while I waited for the original iPad. It went along pretty much normally. Then, when one became available, I added it to my happiness.

markbyrn

“He that can have Patience, can have what he will”

Afflatus

I took the effort to wake up @ 3AM EST to place my order. I got it in 5 days. Did I want to get it in the day it came out? Of course! But I knew there was a risk and I took the more conservative route and have no regrets. That said, even the more conservative routes have small margins for error. My friend placed his order 20 minutes later and he got his two days later. And of course, if you were not able to get up in time, you were already faced with a two week wait. On that note, aren’t we close to that two week mark at this point?

CYBERGIRL87932

It’s all over the news that there is a shortage. If you choose to line up then deal with the consequences. Otherwise, order online. There are more important things to be grumbling about!

boo hoo hoo

wah. i ordered two at 4:08am on launch day and have had them for 6 days. it was a lot easier to wake up a few hrs early than wait in line for days just so the pissing and moaning could begin. there are lots of galaxy tabs out there. go get one of those.

Matheus

Some companies have problems because they can’t sell their products. Apple has problems because it sells too many of their products.

Neal Weiner

I think that math is funny. 49000 x 30 = 1.5mil, but only if a different 70 people show up every day. Seems unlikely.

Saverecords

Four times for me. Same experience. The first 10 or 15 people buy all the inventory. Letting people stand in line for hours and then only selling 20 or 30. Not to mention the fact that there are now 18 models of iPad and there is no way to know if they even have your 1st, 2nd or 3rd choice.

If they aren’t going to have availability they should at least have the courtesy to post the next day’s volume, put a recording on there phone system as to how many are going to be there in the morning. THEY KNOW. They arrive the day before. Also limit one per body. Making over one hundred people stand outside in the cold when your only going to sell 20 to the first ten people is just plain cockiness on apple’s part. I feel sorry for their employees having to deal with customers outrage.Apple. If you got ’em, sell them! If you don’t, Say so!

TashaG

They really don’t receive any shipments on Sunday. They have no receiving staff scheduled and the shipping companies either don’t run on Sundays or charge BIG money for a Sunday Delivery.

angelfire

Why people would be waiting in the line for ipad2 ? Tablet like any other, with some cute features but clearly not something to waste day in the line for ….

syzygy808

Waikiki

Chris Smith

I understand your frustration, but your math is off. It’s not 49,000 different people (if that daily estimate is even correct) who are being turned away. It’s likely many of the same people day after day, so it doesn’t add up to anywhere close to 1.5 million different people being turned away after long waits in line over the next year. You’re also assuming that the supply/demand balance won’t change over the next year, which is also, most likely, a false assumption.

Gadhafi, M.

Sorry to ask this question, ut what is an IPAD?

Wing

why not just order on line and wait. policy is policy for a reason. why would apple give out US$5 iTunes gift cards who waited and couldn’t buy an iPad 2 – your own choice.

in two weeks time, there may not be even 26 countries launch when the japanese supplies dry up, then what, giving out US$ 5 iTune gift cards to the unhappy European and some Asian customers???

stop bitching, count yourself luck as an american who gets iPad 2 first without the inflated prices like us in hk

Anon

So many of these comments miss the point entirely, and are stupidly insulting to the author. He’s not simply complaining that he didn’t get his iPad, he’s not so self-indulgent as to label his private annoyance as a news article.

He’s trying to explain how Apple’s policies are potentially ruining their extreme amount of goodwill with their consumers, which it may well be doing. While some things are outside Apple’s control – how many iPads they can manufacture in a day – others are entirely within their control, such as what managers tell customers.

Pointing out how supply and demand works does not begin to address the author’s point.

Mr.Trololololol

Who the fuck buys apple products on launch days. I mean seriously. Fuckin cry babies. Just wait for like 2-3 weeks.

Chris

I went to Burlingme CA Apple store at 5:45am and I was like number 30. The manager of the store (around 8:30) talked to us and said that there are only 16 available iPad 2s. He also mentioned that they might get another shipment but they don’t know what time in the day. A lot of people gave up, and I decided to stay even it was raining and hella freezing out there. Around 10:30, the manager again talked to us with some good news that they just got 19more units. I was number 10 by that time! I was soo lucky yesterday. It was my first time to wait in line ever. I got a 64 GB Wifi Black. I wanted to get the 3G AT&T but it’s not available in ALL Apple Stores Nationwide. They said maybe next week. Oh well, I still feel lucky to get one. It’s awesome! (:

This isn’t just an Apple thing. Generally in retail you can’t tell a customer that kind of info when they call. When I worked at Best Buy and Gamestop I had to do the same thing that the Apple Stores have to do. It is just a retail thing. And while it does suck it is not a reason to get mad at Apple.

fmaxwell

So Foxconn is supposed to increase their manufacturing capacity to many times its normal levels, only to lay off those workers, and sell the excess facility space and manufacturing equipment, in a couple of months when demand drops?

Or did the author just want Apple to hold off the product release for several month, and lease massive warehouses large enough to stockpile enough iPad 2s to satisfy all demand for months? And then what happens if a defect is discovered two days after launch? Scrap everything? Ship it all back to China to be disassembled and repaired?

Perhaps the author would like to threaten to hold his breath until he dies if they won’t hand him the iPad 2 that he demands — because he sounds a lot like some kid demanding some toy that is sold out around Christmas.

sacorbin

Are you serious? You want something free because you had to wait in line and did not get what you wanted when you wanted it? Most companies will give you a raincheck on a sale item if they run out but they do not give you something free…..If they do, please let me know where you shop at because I need to start shopping there.

BaltiSean

They are being shipped to the stores directly from Hong Kong via US drop stations. I honestly don’t think they know how many they will get.

It sounds like they are shipping them as soon as they are made. I hope they are going through some quality control first.

Mine arrives tomorrow or tuesday. I ordered online at 01:18 PT, right after launch.

Uh

Stop whining about people buying 2 iPads and sending them overseas. They’re doing nothing illegal or wrong, they were in line before you and paid for a product – what they do with it is their business. Next thing you’ll complain about is these people taking all the good jobs – well stop complaining and get an education and maybe you’ll have a shot at these jobs too! You just sound like a big baby because you can’t get what you want. Do you really think Apple cares about upsetting you? Apple could give two shits if you want to boycott them, others will take your place. Little baby.

AlterThending

Quit bitching were all waiting and more important things are happening in the world if you want one so bad order from apple.com and wait like everyone else.

Jdsonice

Mark, I understand and sympathize with you. When a great company creates a great product we all want it. Sometimes they screw up – in case of Apple they don’t screw up – they just don’t know how many they are going to sell.

I ordered my iPad2 online and I am going to wait patiently for it. No other choice. I am certain that if I complain it will take the same amount of time to get the damn thing.

And it is not worth loosing your patience and mind over. It is a toy – all us will use it 24×7 for the first few days and then it will another thing (toy) around the place. :-)

So cheer up and think of all the people who will never ever get an iPad2 in their lives.

Lewis

It’s been a long time since I read something this whiny and babyish, so thanks for that. It’s alwyas nice to see that someone out there will waaaaahhh like a 3 month old.

Indamatrix902100

waiting to get something in the store is pointless. your should have learned that with ipad 1. you should have set your alarm and bought one online friday night at 1am PST or 4am EST… i did, and my was shipped. it will be hand delivered to my house tuesday morning . anyonethat waits in a line for hours for anying is a fool

OEB

For goodness sake… He is whiiiining. His point is that he didn’t get an iPad after waiting in line. Then he goes on to multiply the number of people waiting at HIS store by the number of Apple stores in the country… how very scientific of him. Somebody call a whaaaaambulance.

AlterThending

Well, apple isn’t losing out you’re complaining about how apple doesn’t treat you right as a customer but you’re going home to buy an iPad online and your wife is going back Monday so, what is Apple really losing from your disgust? Not your money.

300AShareMakesMeSmile

This type of manufacturing is not like the savior miraculously pulling loaves and fishes out of some bottomless basket. It takes time to collect components and assemble them. There are hard-working Chinese employees in the assembly line and they’re likely being pushed to the limit. If there’s any screwups in taking assembly shortcuts, the same complainers waiting on line will end up complaining about poorly constructed iPad 2 units. You people really need to assess your lives.

Apple never said it was going to be able to supply every person that wanted an iPad 2 within the first few weeks. They’d already mentioned a build speed of some 3.5 million a month or whatever after ramp-up. If four million people stand on line and Apple ran out, those that didn’t get an iPad 2 will still be complaining. I’m sure most of you will not suffer great loss if you do not get an iPad 2 within a few months time. It actually could hurt Apple a lot more if consumers decide to buy another brand tablet. This BS about Apple making potential iPad 2 purchasers SUFFER is really going too far. Do you think any other company could do better? I doubt it very much. Logistics say that Apple cannot supply everyone who wants an iPad 2 immediately. Somebody has to wait. Surely 99% of those people waiting on line for iPad 2s are not being forced to wait on line.

So if a fairly rare natural disaster happens to disrupt Apple’s production line in the future, say like an asteroid hitting the planet and disrupting everything, you’d still be bitching about not getting some non-essential electronic device?

Guy

Exactly, im from uk, im in america on the 12th but im ordering online over here, hopefully ill get it in time!

Dave

Apple doesnt care, you’ll buy it anyway.

OEB

Best comment. Period.

Deftdrummer

So did I, and here I am waiting until April 1st. I agree with the others though, if that’s the price to pay then that is the price to pay!

On the one hand it is frustrating that Apple makes a product so successful it sells out everywhere, which no firm answers on anything.

Then again, I think ordering online gives you the firmest dates you could get, and you didn’t even have to leave your home or pay shipping. Sounds like a win win to me.

paulbarden

You know, none of this should come as a surprise to anyone who knows how Apple product releases work. That given, one ought to assume the way to get one is to place an order online the moment the device went on sale, and it would already be in their hands by now. (I did, and I received mine last week) This waiting in lines outside the stores is surreal, to say the least. Why would you do that??? And then write editorials to complain? Seriously??

Deftdrummer

In the freezing cold, @ 1030 in the morning in SF? !! LOL son you should come up north for a few nights and let’s do some camping. I bet you’ll be running back to the clutches of your ipad in 24 hrs flat.

When the wind is so loud you can’t fall asleep and you’re huddled inside a tent that could go at any moment – THAT is adventure. Not waiting in line at an Apple store my friend.

Chris Coppin

So stop going to the store, waiting in line, and wait until the hoopla has died down. OR order online and wait patiently until your product arrives. In Australia the product hasn’t even launched yet… get a grip on reality dude. Imagine if you were living in Japan, then re-read your post.

Akira_Kichida

I had to find an aide worker who would let me use their computer so that I could respond. I should conserved the battery by turning my smartphone off, but I was hoping that I would get some word from some member of my family. I was away when the quake and tsunami struck our town. I cannot locate where our home used to be, but there are no homes there now. I pray that my wife and children somehow escaped to higher ground. I continue to sift through rubble looking for them and I visit other shelters hoping that someone has seen them.

But I do not wish to burden you with my troubles after the ordeal that you have gone through while waiting in lines to get your iPad 2. I want you to know that everyone here in the shelter is enraged at what you have experienced. We will not forget this and we will not be bought off by Apple setting up iTunes to accept Red Cross donations.

It’s very cold and there is a radioactive snow falling as I write this, but I am hopeful that the weather will improve so that we can go outside and try to get media attention on your plight. Have strength and know that we have you in our tnoughts.

Akira_Kichida

I had to find an aide worker who would let me use their computer so that I could respond. I should conserved the battery by turning my smartphone off, but I was hoping that I would get some word from some member of my family. I was away when the quake and tsunami struck our town. I cannot locate where our home used to be, but there are no homes there now. I pray that my wife and children somehow escaped to higher ground. I continue to sift through rubble looking for them and I visit other shelters hoping that someone has seen them.

But I do not wish to burden you with my troubles after the ordeal that you have gone through while waiting in lines to get your iPad 2. I want you to know that everyone here in the shelter is enraged at what you have experienced. We will not forget this and we will not be bought off by Apple setting up iTunes to accept Red Cross donations.

It’s very cold and there is a radioactive snow falling as I write this, but I am hopeful that the weather will improve so that we can go outside and try to get media attention on your plight. Have strength and know that we have you in our thoughts.

Guest

I’m a converted Android user. I was a passionate iphone bashing type guy. I got my iPad last week and I’m lovin it. I had to wait in line to get this and I can say that it is definitely worth it!!!!

So sick of it

If I were even getting an iPad I’d order it online and wait for it. It’s not a big deal. Honestly, do you really need it or is it just another toy to add to your collection of electronic gadgets?

I work in hotel and people complain that impossible to get rooms on busy weekends and, then when they do, they complain that it’s too crowded with too many kids. You want a popular device and then bitch because it’s popular.

I used to wait in line to get the latest gadget so I could show off to my friend and co-workers how tech savvy I was but I don’t do that anymore. Why not? I grew up.

somethingmissing

Just buy a Xoom or a Galaxy Tab. Loads of those available. Go on, I dare ya.

Jacquielee

I’m a 71 year old who can’t stand in lines. I have experienced the same frustration. After 4 trips to the only Apple store in 70 miles,2 trips to Walmart,3 trips to Target, and once to the local AT&T store, I finally gave up and ordered online. Except for the Apple store, all the other stores either received no iPads or very few. Both Walmart and the AT&T stores were getting none. In the week since the launch, the Target store received 5 on launch day and 5 of the 16GB WiFi only the following Thursday. My receive date for my order is slated for April 27th.

ipad lover

I read in this site http://www.buyipad-2.com that iPad 2 is now available in stock. Do you guys think we should order online or buy from Store?

iPhoney

Why don’t you just… wait? Do you need an iPad right this very instant? If anyone is repeatedly disappointing themselves by waiting in long lines in front of Apple Stores every morning then they need to reflect a bit on what really matters in life… You’ve lived this long without an iPad I think you can wait a few more weeks.

Apple can’t lease a ton of factories to make iPads only to shut them down once the launch is over. It takes a lot of specialized equipment to make iPads and it would be a waste to churn out enormous stock now just to diminish capacity in a few months.

Jesster_King

Dear dipshit, stores don’t release that info because its a safety issue, #1. if that store does tell people they are getting some, everyone and there mom will be waiting even past the number they have. #2. If one or more people need to exchange a defective one and that wasn’t known at the time when the numbers are released, people are going to bitch and moan bait and switch. #3. If all the dumb fucks wouldn’t buy them on ebay or craigslist for more than retail, the lines wouldn’t be so bad.

Matthijn

Well if it is not available, it is you who are standing in line each day without knowing if there are enough devices. You cant ask of a company to compensate for time you are choosing (multiple consecutive days) to show up in their stores.

They don’t ask you to come back over and over. Is it that hard to wait some weeks before you own the device?

Look, if anyone wants to know what happened to all the ipad 2’s that were promised, just go to ebay. You’ll find them there. It’s ridiculous.

Slipy Frog

Waste of time. Waiting in line frustrations will in no way effect sales.

Les Stratford

Would you like some cheese with your whine?

LauraT

UPS doesn’t deliver on Sundays so they are telling the truth.

Psweeii

I promise if you or anybody should wait in line for a hyped up new product and got treated this way, you would complain too…If i had written the article, having waited in this blind line myself, I would have mentioned it is apparent something at apple is broke because of their inability to inform the waiting customers…my guess is they are trying so hard to corner the market by premiering an underproduced product…plain and simple they have forgotten about customer respect… But isn’t this the now-a-day corporate treatment… john stewart got it right pointing out how apple has now become “the man” and “sold out”…

Psweeii

I promise if you or anybody should wait in line for a hyped up new product and got treated this way, you would complain too…If i had written the article, having waited in this blind line myself, I would have mentioned it is apparent something at apple is broke because of their inability to inform the waiting customers…my guess is they are trying so hard to corner the market by premiering an underproduced product…plain and simple they have forgotten about customer respect… But isn’t this the now-a-day corporate treatment… john stewart got it right pointing out how apple has now become “the man” and “sold out”…

Josh

Stop whinning, suck it up and buy it online. If you had done that the first day you’d have had yours by now…..

David

I was just at the Valley Fair store in Santa Clara this morning. They told people before the store opened that they had 60, that only the first 30 in line are guaranteed iPads because of the 2 per person limit. Everyone else chose to wait in hopes that everyone wouldn’t buy 2.

As for one per person, that’s just as valid a policy, especially favored by those who didn’t make the cut, because it would benefit them. But If you waited all night, or even a few days, you would want the chance to get one for your significant other as well.

Everyone thinks they can manage this situation better than Apple, especially those who didn’t get their iPad 2. The answer seems obvious to you because you don’t have to deal with the fallout when your plan too fails to please everyone.

Steve Jobs

No he isn’t trying to explain how Apple’s policies are potentially ruining their extreme goodwill with their consumers. He is trying to justify whining about how he didn’t get an iPad2 RIGHT NOW when he waited in line for one by making it about their policy. And then he thinks Apple should give him $5 for standing in line?

I’m sure Apple is worried about some sucker who will hold a grudge but STILL buy the product.

God, this is what is wrong with America. Gotta have it now! I am OWED that somehow. Are you trying to get the iPad2 so you can use it to somehow coordinate relief efforts in Japan? Perhaps to aide the citizens of Libya in their attempted uprising? No? Then go online, order the damned thing and stop waiting in lines that you know could be fruitless. Exercise a little patience.

The author is probably standing in front of his microwave right now cursing the manufacturer for making him wait 3 minutes for his popcorn…

Muigaisammy

I thought Steve would keep his word, ‘first dual core tablet to ship in volume’. Apple should learn to put action in line with their words especially when it comes from the top man. Its so sad to see people want the product but its not available. Where is the volume steve

Michael S

If you care about Apple and it’s future success, you should listen to this guy. He has a point, sure compared to someone living without power in Japan it is minor, but Apple needs to handle their product launches better. I am a stock holder and that this is an unhappy customer. That means someone wants to give money to the company I have a vested interest in and Apple won’t take it. I want the company I own a piece of to figure out how to handle demand better in the future. If one Galaxy Tab is sold out of frustration, that is money out of my pocket and one too many.

Nutz320

This happens everyday. It’s not as if it’s only the tsunami in Japan. But I see your point. This guy is complaining over nothing. I suspect the iPad 2 supplies are sufering constraints because of the quake and the huge demand. So, is Apple going to try to get more supplies in or are they going to help the earthquake victims? Yes, it’s a business, but humans run the business.

scxfan

Bottom line.

If you have to have right away, you have to make the commitment.

I got one on launch day.

I got in line 6 hours early and still about 30 ahead of me.

But I went home with one.

You should have done this too.

Yoman

This is the most stupid article I have seen in a long time. Given that same people are standing every day it doesnt count. The people standing in line are the most crazy apple fans and they deserve what they are getting.

Mfstout

Apple isn’t risking anything with their customers. Wait a few days. You’ll get your iPad 2 and lots of people in Japan and Libya will have had much bigger things to worry about. It’s a new product. You can’t have everything. You knew the lines would be ridiculous. I think it’s a crime for anyone to bitch about this when the world is going through what it is. Be patient. Order one online. You’ll live.

MariaJ

“the first ten people – many of whom looked like resellers for eBay or were shipping them overseas”

What does this mean? What does an eBay seller look like?

David

Limit 1/person: “They made me wait 5 days in line and I couldn’t even get my wife one. Home wreckers!”Availability website: “They said they had 2 here and now they’re telling me they’re gone. Liars!”Free $5 gift cards: by your math, 49000 a day x 360 days = $88 million. Pretty easy to give away someone else’s money, isn’t it?Why didn’t they just make more: Ah, hindsight, Monday morning QBs. Samsung built 2 million, now 1.5 million are sitting unsold in stores. Should they have consulted the magic 8 ball, or just made 10 million and HOPED they sold?Pre orders: They probably didn’t have the luxury to ramp up production for preorders AND store stock due to pressure from Xoom and other copycats.Cut off lines: first, need a staff member to stay overnight to manage this, involving major HR issues; second, they DO tell people after iPads / 2 they are not guaranteed an iPad.eBayers/gray marketers: how exactly would you control this? Require a US passport? Americans can work for gray marketers. eBay: make it illegal to sell something that belongs to them?

Problems are always easier to solve when you don’t think them all the way through to implementation, especially when you don’t have to deal with the fallout.

Nospamkthx

wait you want an ipad? i dont think so. if you did youd be one of the first 10 in line. or get it on eBay. plenty there. Seriously are you complaining you cant get a high demand item when you stroll in with 25+ people ahead of you? Someone call the waaaaahmbulance

Denise

Thank you for this article. I totally feel the same exact way. I am glad to know that I am not the only one with these feelings. It has become very frustrating. The same profiteers are on line every day at midnight & Apple doesn’t care. They have become more important than genuine customers. I guess as long as Apple is making a profit they don’t care. I think it is poor judgment since the product first became available in the U.S. but people in Asia are getting them first because of these profiteers. I am no longer a happy Apple consumer & I find myself secretly wishing that Amazon will come out with a better product to outdo Apple!

Spacechrist1

I got mine the day after launch I was on vacation new orleans and went to the apple store about thirteen files from the French quarter. I got there around 11:00 and waited less than five min walked out with a black 32 gig wifi.

Pudh

You’re an idiot, obviously you are frustrated because you didn’t get one, and those 1.5 million people won’t be as frustrated a month from now because they’ll have one…and you probably still wont!

Denise

They are the same people on the front of the line everyday

Denise

9 days later, still cannot get one. Thanks for your empathy as you must already have one

paulbarden

“Making over one hundred people stand outside in the cold when your only going to sell 20 to the first ten people”

Ummm…nobody MADE you stand in that line.

theendoftime

Actually, Apple does a great job making happy customers. Once you buy a Apple product, the customer is happy.

I think you mean Apple is struggling to convert “wannabe” iPad2 customers into iPad 2 customers. But, that is pretty much the best situation any company can ever ask for. Not a single peep will be made by a shareholder about the limitless demand for the product.

Face it, you will buy the iPad 2. This experience will not stop you. Not only will you buy it, but your hunger for the product even caused you to embarrass yourself by publicly whining that you didn’t get to buy one yet.

Apple FTW.

Denise

True statements. I have actually been reading up on the Xoom & hoping Amazon will come out with a better product. The ipad was going to be my 1st apple product along with the iphone 5 but not being able to purchase one for 9 days has become very frustrating. Ordering one & waiting for 4-5 weeks is ridiculous. I believe it will just be a matter of time before BETTER non-Apple products will become available. Hopefully, this will be sooner than later.

Denise

I couldn’t agree more!

Denise

It’s awful. This is not the 1st time Apple has experienced a high demand for 1 of its products. Too bad they still don’t have a clue on how to get it right.

Denise

Never owned a Apple product before. I’ve learned the difficult way. No longer sure if I am so interested. Defnitely no longer excited. But I’m glad to be able to air out my frustration with Apple’s ridiculous business etiquette.

Susan M

I’ve come to the conclusion that all hot apple products MUST be bought online in their first couple of months of release. I’m waiting for mine to come the first week of April. It’s less convenient for me, as I work full time and can’t be home to sign for the package, but I’ve drafted my wonderful mother into that task on the day it comes :) Ultimately, Apple does risk tarnishing its hot new products with the “hassle” reputation. I don’t think they can get away with this situation even one more time. As the building of their new data center indicates they’re getting into cloud computing in a big way (in my opinion) it’s likely they will be coming up with even more hot new products in the future in many form factors to take advantage of that feature. That better not mean more giant hassles for loyal customers. Not only can this damage the brand, it can also damage their incredible work in putting together a great network of stores – one of their competitive advantages. The store employees are put into terrible positions that create bad will with customers.

Susan M

This is in very poor taste, and obviously fake. Shame on you for making up something like this up and exploiting the situation in Japan for a petty dig.

Susan M

Actually, the author is doing his job at a tech blog writing about the tech industry. If you don’t like this sort of topic, you should read another web site.

Susan M

Please stop spamming this obviously fake post.

Denise

They should wait until it arrives in their country. It’s disgusting that Americans cannot get the product first since it was distributed in their own country first. What about Apple implementing Worldwide shipping on the same day. The author is not the only one that feels this way. There are many others! We’ll see what happens in the near future with real competitors such as Amazon who luckily respect its customers & take them seriously.

Susan M

Wow, so as long as there is tragedy in the world, it’s ok for companies to treat you poorly? How nice for them. And by the way, when are you going to donate the computer you’re typing this on to Doctors Without Borders?

Avatrelegolas

Lines are inevitable given that the product just came out…honestly, order online or simply have a bit of patience. Right now, with problems in Japan, and lack of planning, there simply aren’t enough ipad2s to sell to placate all these eager customers. Don’t complain about the fact that you waited in line freakishly early to grab an ipad2 as soon as it came out. Wait for a few weeks, and you’ll have the product.

Denise

You sound very immature. Why don’t you you sell your ipad to one of the Asian’s on line & use it toward an education. it will definitely benefit you!

Denise

Thank you for this article. I totally feel the same exact way. I am glad to know that I am not the only one with these feelings. 6 days now without success is enough for me! It has become way too frustrating & literally a waste of time. The same profiteers are on line every day at midnight & Apple doesn’t care. They have become more important than genuine customers. I guess as long as Apple is making a profit they don’t care. I think it is poor judgment since the product first became available in the U.S. but people in Asia are getting them first because of these profiteers. I am no longer a happy Apple consumer & I find myself secretly wishing that Amazon will come out with a better product to outdo Apple!

technohippybiker

So, not being able to purchase a product that is wildly popular is going to make you have negative feelings toward the company that makes the product you are greedily lusting after? Now you’re also mad because the store manager wouldn’t risk his job to give you free stuff because you wasted your obviously useless time waiting in line?

And the policies that he is supposedly calling into question protect other consumers from people buying 10 of these things and selling those on the grey market too. What else should they do? Stop selling them unless you can prove you are a US citizen and have a home right around the corner that you plan on using it in?

Wow, CultofMac why did you even publish this? We’re talking about buying a thing. A thing. This is just disappointing and sad. Please get over yourselves.

After I bought my iPad on Thursday, I asked if it was okay to stay in the store so that I could activate and sync it with my MBP, as I did last year. They granted me a corner table and a stool so I went to work. Restored from a backup of my old iPad in less than an hour.

As a result of my activation, I got a survey email. I filled out the form, explaining exactly what happened and providing some suggestions. On Saturday I got a call from the store manager. I called him back today and aired my grievances.

He explained to me that during the week after the launch day, when inventory levels are so low, the best course of action is to provide as little information as possible, because even a little bit of information will be used by the scalpers to game the system and make things even more difficult for the average user/buyer. I asked about the credit card policy, and he replied that it no longer is used because of the lawsuit that nearly occurred last year by a local woman who wanted to pay cash and was denied. I offered my suggestion of having specific days for WiFi/AT&T/Verizon. He acknowledged that it might be a way to go. He said that after the first week the lines should die down and the stores will have a little more leeway to provide information. Many of the scalpers who were actually flown in from overseas would have to leave, while others may drop off the lines due to attrition.

We both agreed that this is a situation that can’t be perfectly addressed. It’s also one that might be unique to the iPad due to manufacturing capabilities and the iPad being much easier to buy (no contract) than a phone.

AV16mm

Whether he is whining or not is beside the point. The point is, this is but one of many forums and blogs about a product, and about people wanting the product desperately. That is what apple wants. Angry customers, who cares? it’s exposure, it’s free press, and it’s created demand, and not a single one of those angry customers will leave the apple store line without an ipad2, and go out and buy a motorola zoom, because they suck. you know what they’ll do, they’ll come back and get in line tomorrow, buy an ipad at some point, or they’ll wise up and order one on line. but one thing is for certain… He got it right at the end. They make great products. Happy customers? who cares? go ahead and boycott them, I dare you, and so does the guy behind you in line! By the way, Akira, if you’re sifting through rubble to find family members, what the F#$k are you doing online on anyone’s computer looking up ipad2 forums. You’re a jerk, and I agree with susan, shame on you for taking advantage of a terrible situation for your own attention.

Denise

Donate yours to a school & then try waiting on a line for 4 hours just to be told that there are only 20 available which then go to the same Asians again!

Einstein

Should have incorporated an exponential decay with an asymptote at ~10. Would be a little more accurate.

Denise

I’m actually looking into the Xoom.

Linusquinn

I got incredibly lucky. I found a forum that tracked Target quantity of iPad 2. It was very accurate and up to date. I found one available this Friday and drove out in the middle of nowhere and got the last one. didn’t wait in line or anything. It was like they weren’t sold out nationwide.

On a side note, I think the author is way wrong. yeah they may have handled the release badly, but the sales speak for themselves. And usually customer focus is a top priority at apple. Hot tech items like these are always har to find when they come out. Thats just life and most elect it by now. I think you need to just deal.

I typed this on my iPad 2. It’s a great little tablet. Good luck to everyone!

Denise

Ditto

Denise

The Xoom with its SD slot, better resolution, camera & speed as well as full web experience is starting to sound better every day.

Denise

The Xoom with its SD slot, better resolution, camera & speed as well as full web experience is starting to sound better every day.

Denise

The Xoom with its SD slot, better resolution, camera & speed as well as full web experience is starting to sound better every day.

You have to expect for there to be chaos and disappointment on launch week for Apple. I’ve never been one for queuing up but Apple does need to work a bit better on it’s crowd controls and distribution policies. I won’t go near an Apple store until at least 3 weeks after launch for anything.

[Deleted User]

I think your math is grossly incorrect as you’re predicting that the conditions at your store apply for every store in the USA. Also, you yourself said your wife was waiting on two days so it’s likely that you’re counting multiple people multiple times.

I’m pretty confident that the Apple Store employees aren’t trying to lie and be dicks to you by saying that they don’t know what and how many they’re getting. They really don’t know because the store itself doesn’t request the units. Apple’s people determine demand and ship out products based on demand. It’s actually not a bad way of doing things. That’s not how other retail stores do things but Apple’s way is very efficient as they have the least amount of hands in the jar as possible.

i almost feel bad for you as I’m sitting here typing this on my new iPad 2…but really, there were a lot of warnings, especially by me and other CoM writers that this is what was going to happen. I don’t think Apple wants it to happen. The iPad 2 probably didn’t go into full scale production till 3 weeks (give or take a week or two) before the product was announced. They’re efficient and there’s no way that they’re going to be able to meet the demand for a few months.

buckles

Your problem could have easily been solved. Had you and/or the wife set an alarm for 3:00 AM on Friday, March 11, then ordered online, YOU WOULD ALREADY HAVE YOUR IPAD 2! I did, and following FedEx online tracking, watched it leave Shenzhen, China and arrive at my doorstep in Columbus, Ohio on the morning of Tuesday, March 15. What gives with you whiners who procrastinate and expect empathy? Man up. :-)

Mark

I have come to similar conclusions, although it isn’t worth stressing about. :-) Timing is everything: this week I decided to buy a Nook Color and root it, going with an Android tablet…at least for the time being. Here is my story, posted just this afternoon:

Hope it’s helpful to someone. I’ll probably still wind up with an iPad 2…but this really is one sweet device. Enjoy!

Seb

APPLE SUCKS

Nospamkthx

well as he said there was 25+ people in front of him so…. no its not. where was he at launch? He wants something in high demand and doesnt want to put in the effort, too bad.

gorgeousninja

really? to who exactly? surely not to anyone that wants a better product.

Joseph

Anon:

No, he’s a self-indulgent whiner. Proof: “I even said why not give every one in line a $5 itunes gift card. “Sir, I just can’t go do that” he said. Would have cost $350 and been the best money he spent – but it was outside of policy.”

WTF? You think because you CHOOSE to stand in line to be one of the first buyers of a product you’re entitled to a gift card? The writer is an ass.

freerange

Something you know a lot about…

freerange

What a whining moron! Order online! Wake up idiots! They can’t make them fast enough. What do you expect? That all of a sudden they just show up in your hands and not in those of the other people that are wanting one? It’s called overwhelming demand! Demand that has far exceeded even Apple’s expectations. Maybe you can go buy a Cabbage Patch doll instead…

Lmao

And this is why the rest of the world hates us.

Yikes

I would wait for the ipad 3 .. I heard it has a built in pacifier!

Be Patient

My thoughts exactly. This guy is just frustrated.

HollywoodMaxx

Im so sick of all of you IPAD2 crack heads go to rehab its just a device that plays games, music and movies,and internet wtf! So if you are crazy enough to wait in line then stand there like a ass all day. “I have money to buy a ipad2 look at me I’m a hot shot” well I don’t have money to buy another apple product that does the same thing my other 5 mac products do. my 2 cents. Rich Crybaby!

Crimdellacrim

What is with you and the “Asian” comments? This is not “New” news. You sound as ignorant as the author.

Romanseight3839

This is a ridiculous complaint. If you want an iPad… order one and wait!It is not Apple’s fault that so many people want one, including this article’s author, that people will have to wait to get one. Of course, those who *can’t* wait because they *need* a tablet immediately, can get a different one, that is a risk that Apple is facing.

STFUdenise

Denise must be the author’s wife. Why? She sounds like it and she also points out that the eBayers sell to Asians.

Dan Smith

Being an Apple employee I know for a fact this is our way of controlling supply vs demand. Keep a shortage while everyone is in craze for it. Makes customer demand for such an item higher.

LOLatU

Quit complaining and order it online lazy American. Besides it comes from China so you have to wait for it to arrive in your country.

CK

A booking appointment can solve many people time wasting. I wonder why apple can’t implement this. My feeling is that apple trying to manipulating reputation by making ppl line up for their product. It’s quite understand that shortage is part of the story. but making ppl wasting time is stupid.

Proud2BAmerican

The Japanese are amazing. Saw a picture of them waiting in line for food, patient and calm. Outstanding self respect and self possession. 8 days ago

Meanwhile…8 days from launch waiting for my IPad 2 I am expecting a handout for not getting one this instant. You should be a shamed of yourself.

Anon

You’ll be waiting a long time…

Javier

In other words, he wants people of color to go to the back of the line!He thinks that if Apple stores send non-whites to the back of the line, and give free gift cards to whites, then whites would love Steve Jobs as a “Good old boy” and stop calling him “reality distorting jewboy chink lover” for 24 hours.

He is right about one thing. If Apple acted the way he wants, the lines would be shorter. He could probably afford to by AAPL, too.

Why 2011 is not like 1861?

american

Then buy one.

Denise

The truth – the same 17 asians on line everyday preventing me from getting 1 ipad. i hope you don’t have a problem with the truth

Javier

Apple has implemented appointments – at the genius bar! Apple has an even better idea for sales: buy online, and have your purchase delivered right to your door.

In fact, if you are standing in line when the store runs out of stock, you can go inside, and use one of the Macs on display to access the online Apple store. Apple’s “dirty little secret” is that it is the enormous number of online sales that is causing the shortage.

Denise

Not connected to the author but I do feel the same way since I’ve experienced the same things. One can only make good money selling them internationally on ebay otherwise the profit is small.

Denise

Seriously considering it but I’d like to see it in person again. Not everyone could afford the Rolls Royce of tablets

Denise

Why? Have you looked into it? have you tried it? or is it just that it’s not Apple?

Denise

It is in my country but I can’t get it because of you asians that can’t wait for it to be released in your own country. Please try to open your eyes when reading because my prior post stated I would have liked to see Worldwide shipping on Day 1 which would have been great for everyone.

Denise

Just a thought, after all of the add-ons for the ipad (SD, camera connector, USB port), the ipad appears to be close in price to a macbook.

Craig

Wow. That’s all I can really say. It’s no wonder so much of the world hates Americans and no wonder so many Americans hate Apple users.

Jérome Villanueva

what a whining crybaby! just order online and save the frustration. have a lot of patience. the ipad2 is huge! it’s gonna be worth the wait in the end.

Jérome Villanueva

not all apple users are like that dude! lol

zac

Awwww,,,poor baby! Apple didn’t force you to wait in that line. Even worse, it is COMMON KNOWLEDGE that you are NOT guaranteed an iPad. Exact numbers are not given out for security purposes for truck drivers, employees, and etc. Do you think a robber would benefit from being told that “Our driver will be at the back door at 8:30 with exactly 30 iPad 2s”? Of course he would, that’s why no one is told. Not only that, no one does know stock except one or two people who are sworn to secrecy.

Saverecords, If you want to wait in line, then wait! If you don’t, then fucking don’t and quit whining because the world didn’t revolve around your needs.

OEB

You should multiply the number of Asians by the number of Apple stores in the country to get a precise estimate of the asian scalpers invading our Apple stores. Apparently, that is a valid scientific method according to the article.

Yinyang75

“Good old boy”?

You do know that Steve Jobs is an Arab.

(both his birth parents were Syrian immigrants.

jnjnjn2

Whining doesn’t get you anywhere. Apple makes as many iPads it can. You can be assured of that.But sometimes, and that’s the case now, a product is just too much in demand.If you’re a smart customer you understand that and you wait until the shortage is over.Your displaying a very immature and childish behavior. In Holland we would call you ‘verwend’ (spoiled).

J.

Shaun

Wow what a load of assholes there are in this forum. Some guy tells how he’s disappointed he didn’t get an iPad and you all jump on him like a pack of wolves. YOU are the cry babies here not him. He’s right the iPad 2 launch is a SHAMBLES and will leave a lot of ill will amongst converts to the Apple brand. I’m not saying everyone should get one now, clearly that would impossible, but they could have a more sensible system. For example they could have a registration system for people who want to buy in-store. Go in leave your name and address (with US ID) and when they have the stock they send you an email to go collect it. Allow just one iPad per person for now to stop people buying them up to ship overseas for a huge profit leaving genuine customers out of luck.

Chris Rose

Grow up!

Fred Maxwell

“By the way, Akira, if you’re sifting through rubble to find family members, what the F#$k are you doing online on anyone’s computer looking up ipad2 forums. You’re a jerk, and I agree with susan, shame on you for taking advantage of a terrible situation for your own attention.”

Akira was a fictional character I made up in order to illustrate a point and give some perspective. All of the people with IQs over 60 got that.

blondepianist

I normally don’t critique writing style on the Internet, but this is BAD. The “article” sounds like it was written by a fourth grader – how did this guy get published?

On topic, it’s ridiculous to wait in line for an iPad weeks after it was introduced. If you want one, order it and be patient.

Fred Maxwell

Denise,

Until you learn the difference between possessives (“Asian’s”) and plurals (“Asians”), that “online” is one word, that sentences start with capital letters, and that the “P” in “iPad” is capitalized, you really aren’t in a position to be lecturing others about the need for “an education.”

You also might want to try learning how to construct a sentence, since the word “it” in your second sentence refers to the iPad rather than the never-mentioned money which would be received from the sale of said iPad.

Akira_Kichida

I had to find an aide worker who would let me use their computer so that I could respond. I should turned off my smartphone to conserve the battery, but I was hoping that I would get word from some member of my family. I was away when the quake and tsunami struck our town. I cannot locate where our home used to be, but there are no homes there now. I pray that my wife and children somehow escaped to higher ground. I continue to sift through rubble looking for them and I visit other shelters hoping that someone has seen them.

But I do not wish to burden you with my troubles after the ordeal that you have gone through while waiting in lines to get your iPad 2. I want you to know that everyone here in the shelter is enraged at what you have experienced. We will not forget this and we will not be bought off by Apple setting up iTunes to accept Red Cross donations.

Its very cold and there is a radioactive snow falling as I write this. but I am hopeful that the weather will improve so that we can go outside and try to get media attention on your plight. Have strength and know that we have you in our thoughts.

Fred Maxwell

“If you don’t like this sort of topic, you should read another web site.”

I come here to read about Apple technology, not to read complaining from people who had to wait in line for a newly-introduced, highly popular product.

Anyone with common sense would recognize that it’s in Apple’s interest to have long lines. It creates buzz and images of the lines end up on countless television stations all over the country. Long lines for products, whether iPads or Beanie Babies, drive up demand for those products.

What kind of idiot actually believes that Apple should tell everyone but the first dozen people in line to go home before the TV cameras arrive?

Denise

Freddie, Thanks for your feedback. However, I don’t feel the need to use proper English here since they may understand it better broken. I didn’t realize I was getting graded as I finished graduate school many years ago.

Mauricio Pérez Rivas

I just can’t get it why is it so absolutely important to get the iPad right away after the launch and so many people are willing to wait in line for that.It’s a massive product and it has a massive customer base, so it’s only obvious that being able to cope with demand in this way is almost impossible.I agree Apple could have a better policy around this, but the first nonsense is people willing to wait in line for days only to get the Ipad a month earlier, my guess is there is not much you can say to a person who’s willing to do this.You just can’t expect a normal response to an abnormal behavior.

Fred Maxwell

He self-published it on his wordpress blog, not some place where there is any editorial oversight. How it ended up being published here is what confounds me. It’s not just the poor writing — it’s the profound lack of “grown-up” knowledge.

Of course Apple wants there to be long lines. That’s what gets on local and national TV news, in newspapers, in magazines, and generates buzz for the products. It’s what convinces the fence-sitters that they have to buy one. It’s what gets the attention of traffic driving by. It’s what gets the product named as one of the hottest tech products of the year.

Microsoft would have a field day if Apple were to minimize lines by turning people away. Balmer would be dancing around on stage saying that the lack of long lines was proof that consumers were disappointed with Apple’s iPads. Stock market analysts would be downgrading Apple’s stock.

Yuke

Just adding my own experience on Saturday, which may shed a little light on this.

We arrived around 8am or so to a short line. By 8:45 there were around 20 of us – which really didn’t seem like bad odds. Then a group of about 8-10 young guys showed up with a security guard, and cut in front. Something about some “list” they made last night – I didn’t catch the whole exchange – but with the security guard on their side, they were let in front.

This same group then bought out every iPad2 the store had.

Each young guy came out of the store with a bag of 2-3 iPad2s, and checked in with an older guy (who never went inside himself). The older guy was inspecting the purchases, noting them on a list, then handing the kids a card of some sort in exchange for the iPads. He then left with the lot of them.

Apple employee came out, told folks they were sold out, and if we’d like to wait around in case they got another shipment, we were welcome to. They claimed to be unsure of whether they would get a shipment, and if they did, when it would arrive, or how many they would receive. I’m not sure how many stayed, but my wife and I didn’t.

rbiddle813

I am wondering if Apple has shot themselves in the foot with a shotgun on this. They released the IPad 2 just after Motorola announced their Xoom – I think the only real competitor. Did they do this too early to show the product? Now folks line up for hours. Grey marketers and profiteers are grabbing up the new devices. The old devices are becoming difficult to find. I had been waiting a couple months for the new one and now that I need one I am strongly considering the Xoom – Unfortunately it doe not match the IPad today in software but in every other area it does match or exceed. And now with possible delays due to parts?

Apple should void warranties for grey marketers. Allow them to be sold but deter. Limit purchases to one for now. I have met two other folks who have legitimate needs for something like this and like me are either purchasing the old unit from a retailer who does not charge a restock fee and will return it soon, or are looking at alternatives. I just feel apple is slapping their customers in the face that are trying to purchase by telling them to line up and then telling them sorry. Re-institute a purchase/pickup website so they are sold through the website and picked up in stores. Quit wasting our time or driving us away.

Tyler Schmaltz

“For example they could have a registration system for people who want to buy in-store. Go in leave your name and address (with US ID) and when they have the stock they send you an email to go collect it.” Sounds like a lot of work instead of just buying one online. Seems like you would have a better chance of getting one that way then trying to deal with the low stock being sent to the 1 store you registered at.

Leonides

Syria isn`t an arab country dude, its mostly Aryan like Iran etc

Fred Maxwell

I share your disdain for the scum who buy up the devices and sell them for a profit. Why can’t these people get productive jobs where they add value to the economy rather than trying to take advantage of a shortage that they helped to create?

But you have to recognize that long lines for Apple devices make Wall Street traders happy. The lines are covered on local news stations. They create a buzz about the device. The reinforce the notion that the device is trendy, cool, and exciting.

What do you think would happen to Apple’s stock price if the iPad 2 was released and there were no lines of people waiting to buy it? We’d be seeing stories attributing the short lines to the iPad2 being undesirable, overpriced, disappointing, etc. We’d see editorials questioning whether Apple had stumbled and whether this was the beginning of the end of their meteoric rise. We’d have stories speculating that this is the ‘post-Jobs’ Apple producing competent products that fail to capture the hearts and minds of consumers.

If you really need an iPad now, get an original iPad. They work great and can be had at a really attractive price now.

Fred Maxwell

So you want a system that leads to no lines. You want one where people don’t wait in line for an iPad and then go in and buy a new USB hard drive, a new laptop, software, a case for their iPhone, etc. You want a system where local news crews go by and see an empty sidewalk outside of the Apple stores. You want one where Balmer can giddily cheer about the lack of consumers lining up to buy the device?

Basically, you want one where, for the first time in recent years, there’s no visible sign of demand, excitement, or buzz about the product? I’m guessing you’re not in marketing.

Yinyang75

The name of Steve Jobs’ birth father is Abdulfattah Bin-Jandali.

Fred Maxwell

So what? The devices are for totally different purposes. I just came from an auto body shop. I stood there with my iPad in one hand flipping through pictures to show the guy what I was looking for in a custom paint job. You can’t do that with a MacBook. And that’s just one example.

Fred Maxwell

I think that we’re all getting tired of your bigotry. If you have a problem with resellers, fine; I do too. But noting that they are “Asians” adds nothing — unless your goal is to stir up the other xenophobes.

Fred Maxwell

Getting it right means maximizing their profits, not making you happy. Getting it right means having huge lines that get noticed by television crews, Wall Street traders, and technophiles. They want long lines. They want people stretching down the block. Because for every genius that stands in line, day after day, there will probably be dozens of reasonable customers who order online.

Fred Maxwell

Good. Buy it. Start posting one their forums. We might even chip in to help pay the cost.

Fred Maxwell

It’s what you wear on your iVagina.

Fred Maxwell

Seriously? You’re going to tell us that it’s easier to put in extra apostrophes and spaces where they don’t belong?

If you don’t want to be “graded,” then quit telling others that they need to get an education — because yours is apparently not doing you much good. Your alma mater must be so proud, especially about the anti-Asian racism.

These sort of small missteps are emblematic of all companies as they become successful. It’s happened for decades now: You build up a customer base giving them what they want, then you start getting wrapped up in protecting market share and following protocol, etc. You think “the customers will never leave” and then one day you’re IBM, you’re Microsoft, you’re soon-to-be-Google. The fact that I’ve seen more than one person complaining about how ridiculous these lines are means that Apple should have probably done a better job trying to manage the logistics of this. This after the antenna-gate debacle last year…

And all you people that think he’s just whining…They took pre-orders last year, why didn’t they do it this year? I assume it’s because having huge lines of people on the local news is great publicity, but having it be a few weeks later and people still can’t get their hands on one doesn’t do anything good for your brand image, and will eventually start making people seek alternatives.

Fred Maxwell

No you did not. You’re just a spammer.

Sevize

Guest Post please dont come back.

Sevize

You look like you have not been an Apple customer ever, Apple DOES try to do the BEST they can under the circumstances, plus the customer is not alway right, I would know I own a business

Fred Maxwell

It’s not a “misstep” and Apple isn’t ‘becoming successful.’ Apple is a powerhouse in the tech industry and Apple has had lines around the block for almost every major consumer electronics product that they’ve introduced in the last five years.

“Antennagate?” Please. T-Mobile was gobbled up by AT&T because they didn’t have an iPhone to offer to consumers.

This is good marketing on Apple’s part. While there are a few people who complain about the lines, the *vast* majority of people go online and order or pick up the device in a month or so at a local store. In the meantime, the extremely tiny percentage of people who camp out in lines outside the stores are generating media attention, consumer buzz, and confidence in Apple on Wall Street.

Matthew Case

Not sure where you thought I was talking about the T-mobile acquisition in regards to the iphone 4 antenna issue last year. That particular debacle caused at least 5 of my friends that were considering iphones to go with Android or BlackBerry instead. I also know a few people that are going to get the 32 gig Wifi Xoom because they don’t want to wait around a month for the ipad 2. It’s small things like this that start to add up.

freshfunk

lol. I’m at least trying to get my hands on an iPad2 for a legitimate business purpose by the end of the month but it seems impossible. C’est la vie. This guy is right: Author sounds like they are owed something.

He asks them to go against company policy of selling two. He asks for a free $5 gift cert. lol! Seriously?

I hate the lines but that’s how the cookie crumbles. In America, if you wait in line early enough you can buy another and sell one for profit. Didn’t get their early enough? Too bad.

I think it sucks too but I’m certainly not owed an iPad. If I didn’t need one for business, I’d simply order online and wait. What’s the big deal?

freshfunk

The useful information here (based on what I’ve heard calling around) is that Apple stores seem to get somewhere in between 10-20 a day. You have to be the first 5-10 people in line because most people seem to be buying 2 and selling one of them online.

Stores seem to vary as far as how early you need to get there. It still seems really hectic. I tried calling Verizon and that seemed impossible. I didn’t even bother with Best Buy or Walmart due to stories I’ve read online of them barely having any stock. I read a rare story where some guy got lucky at Target.

I think it’s just a waiting game until most people give in and order online.

Shaun

Actually I do work in marketing. I agree that lines create a buzz and free publicity, but when you get to the front of the line you expect to buy the product otherwise what’s the point. Who says all those disappointment people will come back. Ultimately marketing is about generating sales not simply creating publicity.

catbusrider

Embarrassing. The capper is the demand for a $5 gift card, for his “troubles”.

MoistPup

It is hard for me to imagine that *anybody* would wait in line for an iPad 2. Especially return to that line after multiple days. Do they not know they can purchase the iPad 2 directly from Apple online? They appear to ship them within 4 or 5 days according to the page. That means 1 whole weeks wait.

Erakmeshak

I agree 100%I’m pissed at apple. Delay the international launch. Fulfill all orders placed on launch day. It’s not fair. I ordered mine online as soon as I could. At 3:45 pm. And it won’t ship until April 1st. They won’t expedite shipping. It’s bullshit. I know someone who ordered through Att on Saturday and theirs has shipped.

JK

This is the second generation of the most successful device launch in the history of the world. Apple planned for massive demand and still can’t keep up; it’s as simple as that. Don’t get too upset with them for having shortages, there is literally no company on earth that could do any better. They are running the factories full-tilt; you can’t just scale production up to the level you want instantly. Remember the initial demand for PS2 or Wii? You couldn’t buy a Wii for months!

JK

Me too, same dates, no biggie. I didn’t realize that you could order that morning on-line or I would have. I went to the local Best Buy at 4:25pm because I called and they told me at 4:30pm they would hand out tickets for the iPads in stock and those people could then purchase them at 5:00. The guy in front of me got the last 3G and it was the exact model I wanted (ATT 3G BLK 64GB) and he didn’t even want it. He was really hemming it over and trying to justify the price and carrier to himself before he settled on getting it. I was aggravated with him momentarily but, c’est la vie.I could have bought a Wi-Fi model (that I didn’t want) and put it up on ebay for a profit, I suppose, but that didn’t seem right since there were still a bunch of folks behind me, still excited. I was in line a total of 15 minutes. I had a long drive ahead of me that night so I called each store between me and my destination along the way (nothing better to do while driving). Passed up the opportunity to buy about a half-dozen wi-fi models, got where I was going and placed the on-line order… People need to relax and breath, expend a reasonable amount of effort to get it and then move on with their lives.

Ilovetoscore

I want a feast I want a bean feast Cream buns and doughnuts and fruitcake with no nuts so good you could go nuts. Give to me now! I want a ball I want a party Pink macaroons and a million balloons and performing baboons and Give it to me now. I want the world, I want the whole world. I want to lock it all up in my pocket It’s my bar of chocolate Give it to me now! I want a party with roomfuls of laughter Ten thousand ton of ice cream And if I don’t get the things I am after I’m going to scream! I want the works, I want the whole works! Presents and prizes and sweets and surprises in all shapes and sizes, And now! Don’t care how I want it now!

Fred Maxwell

Why would you expect to buy the product when there is greater demand than supply?

Even people who collected Beanie Babies understood that there was a good chance that they would wait in line a long time and that the store would sell out before they got one. Ask any parent what happens at Christmas when their kid wants the most popular, and sold-out, toy on the market.

Apple understands that it’s about generating sales. That’s why they let you order it online.

Fred Maxwell

“Not sure where you thought I was talking about the T-mobile acquisition in regards to the iphone 4 antenna issue last year.”

You weren’t. I was. You failed to connect the dots:

“Antennagate” turned out to be a total, complete, non-issue. The proof of that is that T-Mobile just threw in the towel because they couldn’t compete in the mobile market if they could not sell an iPhone 4.

“I also know a few people that are going to get the 32 gig Wifi Xoom because they don’t want to wait around a month for the ipad 2. It’s small things like this that start to add up.”

No, what adds up is thousands of people deciding that the iPad 2 must not be any good because there are no lines for it.

Mark

I’m going to try this with my next project…Makes things look a bit better

La-jolla-apartments

I want to thank you for yet another fantastic post.

Best Baby Formula

Thank you for writing this tutorial . It’s just what I was trying to find. Truly amazing post.

crybaby

so did you go on line to get yours then, I assume? or did you wait in line? or do you just not have one?

maybe there is a wii game i can buy to practice waiting on line in my basement until my ipad arrives. that would be awesome

QTPY

Ok people seriously!!!!!!! Buy Online it’s easier than wasting time in line to never get one for weeks. Just order ipad2 online and wait at home instead of in line at a mall. Either way you have to wait.

San Diego Business Insurance

God, this is what is wrong with America. Gotta have it now! I am OWED that somehow. Are you trying to get the iPad2 so you can use it to somehow coordinate relief efforts in Japan? Perhaps to aide the citizens of Libya in their attempted uprising? No? Then go online, order the damned thing and stop waiting in lines that you know could be fruitless. Exercise a little patience. THUMB UP FOR THIS COMMENT!

the_ownage

I was able to get one 4 days after release without getting in line, that’s of course if you live in California, people should wait it out for the glue to dry at least so they won’t feel robbed and cry bloody murder that they got a dud, google light bleeds on iPad 2 then you’ll know.

the_ownage

there’s about 1500 iPad 2 at MacMall in Torrance CA on 3/16/2011, but their policy is one per customer, you can come back the next day and buy another one to your hearts content and still not fall in line, or you can exchange if you’re getting light bleed it’s all good, it’s the cases for the new iPads that they don’t have, don’t get sucked in on those new smart covers they provide no protection at all, dumbest ever and there’s no case for it WTF! duh!

above management

I wonder how many times you had to look over that paragraph you wrote before posting it.

Oh, and, I don’t believe you went to graduate school. Nice try.

above management

fred maxwell, do you actually think apple did this on purpose?

no brand wants to get anyone upset. apple knew it would sell out, but they weren’t ready for the amount of people left in line.

listen to stan. marketing IS about generating sales. publicity is good, sales are more important.

the biggest problem apple has right now are people like the writer of this blog. all apple’s effort right now is going into trying to make those people happy.

what are you, like 22 or something?

Al_montpellier83

wow that’s impressive… I was so lucky, went this Friday about 9:30 am (30 min before the store opening) in Boston, and got the 16GB+3G that I wanted, just had to wait like 20 min in line. I wouldnt for sure do the line for several days, guess I was just lucky because I got the last one that day

jessicamagert

I bought a new one last month and returned it and got the version 2!It is amazing the difference! like the difference of iphone and iphone 4.

abhijit93

dude, you are perfectly correct. But, waiting in line for hours, wasting your time for a piece of aluminium and finally, getting nothing is a bit annoying.

Beeford

Have you ever thought about the whole “Japan” factor? This whole “thousands of people dying” thing can slow down how many pads they get in.

Gipp

Funny that its offical name is ‘The Syrian Arab Republic’ !

moabi

I ordered online. It’s backordered. They have no idea when it would come. They charged my card and said I could cancel at any time and get full refund. Good news is that while I am waiting I might come to my senses that I don’t really NEED an ipad 2 and might be able to shake off all the NEED and hype and smooth Job’s presentation out of my space and cancel before it arrives.

Jason

He’s absolutely right. Your’e the idiot!! I love apple products but not their marketing strategies! That’s like hanging a T-bone steak in front of a dog but saying you can’t have it yet…..oh please

LV GRAMPS

Apple has more customers than product and is treating loyal customers like garbage. By allowing two per customer the scalpers are having a field day. Does Apple care , hell no they are making millions. I am waiting five weeks after ordering on line, but refuse to let the scalpers profit from me.

Beeford

Dude, the earthquake slowed things down from them, chillax

Vthecub

HAHA! my boyfriend and I got two the day it came out. suckas! we didn’t even wait in line.

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Ricksmalley27

I’ll sell you my 16g wifi for $1000

JP_1_2_3

LMAO. IPads Suck anyways. They are only meant to compliment computers…well thats the excuse Apple makes when saying thats why they dont have a usb drive. Waste of Money. Just get an Iphone because it does more than the ipad and it actually fits in your pocket! crazy.

JP_1_2_3

Chill dude. If he wanted to write a thesis I’m sure he would have used capital lettering and proper grammar. AT LEAST HE DIDN’T WRITE EVERYTHING IN CAPITAL LETTERS!

Sdddds

shut up people

mfishk

How about you order it online and, god forbid, wait a week or 2 to get it… I know that’s asking a lot. Then, at least, you could sit at home and complain that the FedEx man didn’t bring it today, or know where it was, or when it would get there…

Nabi Awada

I love how your own idiocy became apparent before I even realized you commented on my message, “graded” isn’t this just a case of the pot calling the kettle black? Graduate school honestly? WOW! Did you know I’m a scientist for space-monkey-nauts ?! I also fly winged lions for fun!! Yeah your credibility online = shit, especially after proving you have no idea how to construct a sentence or a decent, well thought out rebuttal … For future reference calling someone uneducated and failing to provide a coherent argument makes you look stupid, take care dumbass :)

Nabi Awada

Your even a bigger whiner then the author, how many comments can you send regarding the same issue, wahhh wahhh